Question How to start up a motherboard WITHOUT using front panel pins? [SOLVED]

[mysterybash]

Recently I bought for cheap an old AM3+ motherboard (and an Athlon II X2 270 included) with the vendor claiming that it was working even though it doesn't work for me.
The power LED lights up and USB peripherals receive power but it seems that the computer doesn't want to start up: It's almost like the front panel connectors are fried.
Does anyone know how I can start up this motherboard without having to use the front-panel connectors?

Things I've already done while diagnosing the board:
- using a different (supported) CPU
- changing the CMOS
- changing the PSU
- changing the RAM
- changing the power cable
- changing every single peripheral (monitor included)
- changing the power button pins
- short-circuiting the power button pins
- changing the case that the motherboard was in
- crying

 

[DSzymborski]

Short-circuiting the power button pins *was* the other way to turn it on, unless the motherboard has a dedicated power button internally that you can press. You didn't specify your motherboard, but I imagine that if your motherboard had one, you already would have tried that.

Return the parts. You've already spent more time than its worth to troubleshoot $20 worth of ancient PC hardware.

 

[Eugene$$]

View: https://youtu.be/FuPZlliGqBw

 

[Math Geek]

if you have power to the usb and other components, then the power button is not the problem. if it did absolutely nothing and you can't jump the connectors, then you start looking at that.

your problem lies elsewhere, most likely the cpu socket itself is messed up. but the board is likely DOA and not worth any more time honestly.

 

[mysterybash]

Short-circuiting the power button pins *was* the other way to turn it on, unless the motherboard has a dedicated power button internally that you can press. You didn't specify your motherboard, but I imagine that if your motherboard had one, you already would have tried that.

Return the parts. You've already spent more time than its worth to troubleshoot $20 worth of ancient PC hardware.

I would genuinely love to return the parts and get my €40 back but not only is the seller unresponsive, but ebay says that I'm "not eligible" to any form of refund from the seller.

if you have power to the usb and other components, then the power button is not the problem. if it did absolutely nothing and you can't jump the connectors, then you start looking at that.

your problem lies elsewhere, most likely the cpu socket itself is messed up. but the board is likely DOA and not worth any more time honestly.

Considering my college is on summer break, I have about 3 months to waste on getting this poor motherboard back to life. What's the first place I can start "diagnosing"?

 

[Math Geek]

does the board post with just the cpu and a ram stick installed ? if not try multiple ram slots with the single stick. i am assuming you already know the cpu and ram work in another system.

if not, then it's likely the cpu socket is dead. if it posts, can you get into BIOS?

you've already tried the obvious troubleshooting with various replacement parts. not sure what else you can do if it won't post with just the cpu and ram installed.

 

[geofelt]

Can you post a link to the ebay offering?
Usually ebay is very protective of the buyer.
If the seller said "as is" you have no recourse.
Instead of spending 3 months beating a dead horse, get an extra summer job and buy a replacement.
A pc with a Athlon II X2 270 is truly puny and not worth spending anything on.

 

[USAFRet]

an old AM3+ motherboard (and an Athlon II X2 270 included)

Assuming you spend a couple hundred hours in getting this working (unlikely)...what will you use this ancient underpowered thing for?

 

[mysterybash]

does the board post with just the cpu and a ram stick installed ? if not try multiple ram slots with the single stick. i am assuming you already know the cpu and ram work in another system.

if not, then it's likely the cpu socket is dead. if it posts, can you get into BIOS?

you've already tried the obvious troubleshooting with various replacement parts. not sure what else you can do if it won't post with just the cpu and ram installed.

the CPU fan didn't even start

Assuming you spend a couple hundred hours in getting this working (unlikely)...what will you use this ancient underpowered thing for?

i've had a very odd wish, the one of having an FX-based workstation. (btw i do have the FX cpu arriving from a friend who sold it to me for just €5 because "it's been accumulating dust since '13 on my store's shelf"

Can you post a link to the ebay offering?
Usually ebay is very protective of the buyer.
If the seller said "as is" you have no recourse.
Instead of spending 3 months beating a dead horse, get an extra summer job and buy a replacement.
A pc with a Athlon II X2 270 is truly puny and not worth spending anything on.

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P.S.: I GOT IT TO WORK!
The solution was (and i <Mod Edit> you not) de-solder and re-solder the front panel pins.
For the first time ever my gut instincts about the front-panel pins being the problem was right.
That being said, hopefully someone in the future who has the same problem will find this thread and get their mobo working too.
Thanks for helping me y'all but I managed to macgyver it

P.P.S.: I marked the title with [SOLVED]

 

[DSzymborski]

Glad you were able to resolve the issue in this manner! That's a specific solution I haven't personally come across, most likely because I hate dragging out the soldering station and would almost certainly just replace the motherboard!

I'm not quite sure I understand the lure of wanting an FX workstation in 2023 (or ever) -- to me, that would be like someone saying their dream car is a 1989 Yugo -- but if it makes you happy, enjoy!

 

[Math Geek]

yah not where i'd expect to find the issue. but glad you got it worked out.

do note though that those fx chips can be very power hungry and only the top few boards could handle it. with that board, i'd not expect to overclock it at all. it'll run at stock settings but trying to push it will not make the old used mobo very happy at all.

 

[DSzymborski]

Oof, I double-checked the motherboard after Math Geek's comment and saw that it was one of those ultra-cheap AM3+ motherboards. These were pretty universally terrible, retrofitted AM2+ motherboards, and 125W CPUs ate those things for lunch. Hopefully nothing more powerful than an FX-6300 is being used.

 

[mysterybash]

Oof, I double-checked the motherboard after Math Geek's comment and saw that it was one of those ultra-cheap AM3+ motherboards. These were pretty universally terrible, retrofitted AM2+ motherboards, and 125W CPUs ate those things for lunch. Hopefully nothing more powerful than an FX-6300 is being used.

yah not where i'd expect to find the issue. but glad you got it worked out.

do note though that those fx chips can be very power hungry and only the top few boards could handle it. with that board, i'd not expect to overclock it at all. it'll run at stock settings but trying to push it will not make the old used mobo very happy at all.

I noticed that about the mobo, I'm getting a 6300 because it's the best fit.